The reason the FIC is there at all...the reason ANY faithful sidekick is there as an assistant to the main heroic character of the tale...is this: it is a device which permits the main character to get into many desperate situations where the sidekick can rescue him...or vice versa. It allows for more complex plot permutations than a story about a character entirely on his own.

It also provides lots of scope for plenty of cool scenes and dialogue involving UIP.

"My head is aching and I keep hearing a strange ringing in my ears, Tonto."

"Ugh. That because you gottum arrow through head from last ambush, kimosave..."

"What kind of arrow is it, Tonto?"

"It be Apache arrow, Kimosave. Woolworth's brand. You want me pull-um out?"

"No, Tonto. No. I am one who has always been willing to sacrifice comfort for style. Hi-Yo Silver...AWAYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!"